Former Goldman Trader Creates Mini Pod Shop for Non-Traditional Traders
Kelvin Chiu, a former commodities trader at Goldman Sachs and Vitol Group, has turned his Singapore-based family office into a mini pod shop. He assembles a team of traders running different strategies, giving them independence to make trades without being constrained by traditional hedge fund or multi-strategy firm models.
Chiu's solution was to hire traders who don't fit in elsewhere, using social media and Substack to identify talent. His approach is similar to that of the world's biggest multi-strategy firms, which have specialist traders focusing on various markets. Chiu wants to create a firm he would've liked to work for when he started his career.
The mini pod shop has six trading pods alongside Chiu's commodities book, including a Japanese activist investing team called SilverCape Rejuvenate Strategy that managed over $200 million in assets at the end of August. The team targets small to mid-sized companies and has seen share price growth after being welcomed by some firms.
Chiu aims to fund at least two new investment pods within the next 12 months, one specializing in China futures and another in pan-Asia equities outside of Japan. His multi-strategy model allows him to spread his capital while learning from his traders, giving him an edge in the market.